Lavish parties. Committee chairmanships for sale. Pay-to-play corruption. Backroom arm-twisting. Votes on major legislation going to the highest bidder. Welcome to Washington, D.C., the swamp that President Donald Trump was elected to drain. Congressman Ken Buck is blowing the whistle on the real-life House of Cards in our nation's capital. Elected in 2014 as president of one of the largest Republican freshman classes ever to enter Congress, Buck immediately realized why nothing gets done in Congress, and it isn't because of political gridlock—in fact, Republicans and Democrats work together all too well to fleece taxpayers and plunge America deeper into debt. "It is an insular process directed by power-hungry party elites who live like kings and govern like bullies," Buck reports. Buck has witnessed first-hand how the unwritten rules of Congress continually prioritize short-term political gain over lasting, principled leadership. When Buck tangled with Washington power brokers like former Speaker John Boehner, he faced petty retaliation. When he insisted Republicans keep their word to voters, he was berated on the House floor by his own party leaders. When other members of Congress dared to do what they believed to be right for America instead of what the party bosses commanded, Buck saw them stripped of committee positions and even denied dining room privileges by the petty beltway bullies. In Drain the Swamp, Buck names names and tells incredible true stories about what really happened behind closed doors in Congress during legislative battles that have ensued over the last two years including budget, continuing resolutions, omnibus, trade promotion authority, Iran, and more. If the Trump administration is going to bring real change to Washington, it first needs to get the whole story—from deep inside the swamp.

Washington's Murky Pool of Corruption and Cronyism and How Trump Can Drain It

Author: Eric Bolling

Publisher: N.A

ISBN: 1250150183

Category: History

Page: 240

View: 1670

The Instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! When Washington D.C. was first built, it was on top of a swamp that had to be drained. Donald Trump says it's time to drain it again. In The Swamp, bestselling author and Fox News Channel host Eric Bolling presents an infuriating, amusing, revealing, and outrageous history of American politics, past and present, Republican and Democrat. From national political scandals to tempests in a teapot that blew up; bribery, blackmail, bullying, and backroom deals that contradicted public policies; cronyism that cost taxpayers hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars; and personal conduct that can only be described as regrettable, The Swamp is a journey downriver through the bayous and marshes of Capitol Hill and Foggy Bottom. The presidential election of 2016 was ugly, but it exposed a political, media, industry, and elite establishment that desperately wanted to elect a politician who received millions of dollars from terror-funding states over a businessman willing to tell the corrupt or incompetent, “You’re fired.” The book concludes with a series of recommendations for President Trump: practical, hard-headed, and concise ways to drain the swamp and force Washington to be more transparent, more accountable, and more effective in how it serves those who have elected its politicians and pay the bills for their decisions. Last year President Trump declared Wake Up America to be a "huge" book; Eric Bolling's second book is sure to build on that success. Entertaining and timely, The Swamp is the perfect book for today's political climate.

"Longtime Trump observer David Cay Johnston shines a light on [what he sees as] the political termites who have infested our government under the Trump administration, destroying it from within and compromising our jobs, safety, finances, and more"--Dust jacket flap.

What is happening in the ostensible “Land of the Free”? At a time when the freedoms of assembly and speech no longer exist on college and university campuses across the US, when students are swept up into violent protests organized and funded by a lethal combination of die-hard revolutionaries and well-intentioned but woefully misguided and guilt-ridden members of the nouveau riche, and when US political factions are more polarized than at any time since the Civil War, objective observers are forced to ask, “Is the US now on the brink of a revolution?” The author identifies key developments over the last one hundred years which may have escaped the notice of the vast majority of US citizens but nonetheless have been laying the groundwork for a sociocommunist take-over. He warns that a “hot” revolution like the US Civil War is a distinct possibility, and then outlines steps that can be taken to prevent it while preserving the US as a constitutional democratic republic.

Running God’s Way reveals the proven campaign techniques in God’s Word and provides the winning strategies needed to succeed on Election Day. In this complete guide to campaigning, candidates, supporters, and Christians wanting to impact their world will learn how to: • Write a winning campaign plan; • Put together an enthusiastic volunteer team; • Deliver a memorable message; • Utilize technology to win elections; • Raise needed funds to reach your goals; • Implement a successful door-to-door program; • Wage war from the trenches; and • Get out the vote on Election Day. “As one who has held public office, I see Congresswoman Hartzler’s book as an essential. There are very few resources available that can help Christians run a campaign that both honor God and succeed. Vicky has not only written the book, she has carried it out in practice. If you are considering running for office or you want to help those who are, Running God’s Way is a must read.” — Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council “One of the biggest problems with politics today is getting good people to run for office. And one of the biggest reasons they don’t run is they don’t know how—it seems a daunting task. Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler’s book is the answer. So whether you are a candidate, supporter, or patriot, this book is for you.” — David Barton, Founder and President, WallBuilders “Congresswoman Hartzler’s unique book describes exactly what you need to know to run a well-planned campaign. You owe it to yourself, and the traditional Judeo-Christian values in which we believe, to read her book.” — Alex Mooney, U.S. Representative, West Virginia 2nd District

Public corruption is the silent killer of our economy. We’ve spawned the thickest network of patronage and influence ever seen in any country, a crony capitalism in which business partners with government and transfers wealth from the poor to the rich. This is a betrayal of the Framers’ vision for America, and of the Constitution they saw as an anti-corruption covenant. Most Americans get it, and this explains the otherwise improbable rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. When a country is corrupt, legislative efforts to make things better can actually make them worse. That’s what has happened with our campaign finance laws, says the conservative, and not entirely without reason. We’ve criminalized political speech and sent the message that it’s unsafe to get involved in politics without a lawyer at one’s side. Donor disclosure requirements have also unleashed Internet mobs that attack political opponents. We’d be better off without any of them, Buckley argues in this provocative book. They’re a net with the curious feature that the big fish swim through safely while only the little fish are caught, and those with the wrong political beliefs. All such rules are a disaster, and should be replaced by a different set of laws that focus on crony capitalism and the nexus of legislators and lobbyists that prey on our economy.

In 2013, when Washington D.C. law enforcement learned that Trey Radel, then a Republican congressman from Florida, had bought cocaine, he quickly became the target of a police sting. In October of that year, Radel was arrested for attempting to buy cocaine from an undercover cop, and subsequently became the subject of intense media coverage and scrutiny. When Radel resigned in 2014, he left with insider knowledge that remains unknown to most American citizens. Democrazy is Radel's candid account of the making of a modern political star and the inner workings of Congress.

The cavemen need help. Their King has forgotten all about them, thanks to the swamp creatures who surround the castle. “They’re slippery!”76' " m ujmmmmmtk, “—and scaly!” “and SLIMY!" Donald is just a caveman. But when the people ask for his help, he realizes there’s only one way to save the kingdom: DRAIN… THE… SWAMP! Written by #1 national bestselling author and humorist Eric Metaxas and illustrated by award-winning artist Tim Raglin, Donald Drains the Swamp is a whimsical parable for the current political moment.

Our republic is imperiled. At a time of unprecedented government spending, historic deficits, and gathering foreign threats, America stands at a crossroads. We can either reassert fiscal discipline and reduce the government to the size envisioned by ourFounders, or we can continue on the current path of spending ourselves into oblivion. In Restoring the Republic, Republican Congressman Devin Nunes lays out a detailed agenda for solving the menacing problems that threaten our nation's future. Born and raised in the breadbasket of California, thirty-six-year-old Nunes has seen firsthand how the convergence of big government, big business, and the radical Left has wreaked havoc on entire communities, turning the once-thriving farmland of the San Joaquin Valley into a blighted desert reminiscent of the Dust Bowl. Now the same forces are doing their damage on a national level, threatening America's very foundation. But Nunes has a plan to stop them. -- p. 4 cover.

A disturbing and shockingly frank tell-all of vanity, greed and deceit

Author: Congressman X

Publisher: Hillcrest Publishing Group

ISBN: 1634139739

Category: Political Science

Page: 84

View: 8355

A devastating inside look at the dark side of Congress as revealed by one of its own! No wonder Congressman X wants to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. His admissions are deeply disturbing. . . "Most of my colleagues are dishonest career politicians who revel in the power and special-interest money that's lavished upon them." "My main job is to keep my job, to get reelected. It takes precedence over everything." "Voters are incredibly ignorant and know little about our form of government and how it works." "It's far easier than you think to manipulate a nation of naive, self-absorbed sheep who crave instant gratification." "Fundraising is so time consuming I seldom read any bills I vote on. Like many of my colleagues, I don't know how the legislation will be implemented, or what it'll cost." "We spend money we don't have and blithely mortgage the future with a wink and a nod. Screw the next generation. It's about getting credit now, lookin' good for the upcoming election."

Pork-barrel projects like the $452 million "bridge to nowhere" and Keynesian economic debacles like the $840 billion stimulus package that saved as few as 600,000 jobs ($1.4 million per job) have led to a staggering $20 trillion in national debt-about $150,000 per citizen. With most members of Congress focusing only on their own interests, it's time to smash the DC elitists' monopoly and rein in spending and extraconstitutional overreach. Although the Constitution established a framework for limited federal power and expansive personal freedoms, self-interested politicians and activist court rulings have seriously imbalanced the system. Smashing the DC Monopoly provides the solution to how we the people can finally wrest control away from Washington insiders and back to our local and state representatives. Having spent more than fifteen years fighting government fraud and irresponsibility, Sen. Tom Coburn reveals that at least $150 billion could be saved annually by eliminating waste and duplication in the federal government. Indeed, while serving on the Simpson-Bowles Commission Senator Coburn worked on a proposal to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over ten years (which, although a good first step, is but still a drop in the bucket compared to the federal government's $143 trillion in unfunded liabilities). Yet the profligate spending and mismanagement continue unabated. In fact, the growth of government has led to a divided, debt-ridden nation of dependent citizens with decreasing personal freedoms. It's time for the people to take charge. The Constitution's Framers anticipated a time when self-interested officials would be unwilling or unable to act in the people's long-term interest. Thus they included the safety feature of Article V that allows the people to propose amendments to the Constitution through the actions of their state legislatures. Already a growing number of grassroots organizations are actively promoting a convention of the states to address issues such as mandatory balancing of the federal budget, term limits on congressional members, and limits on the federal judiciary. Giving up on the political class, Smashing the DC Monopoly argues for an Article V amendments convention as the best solution to limit the power and scope of the federal government. The book provides the historical background for Article V, reveals past attempts to hold an amendments convention, explains the inherent safety of this process, and examines the current efforts since 2010. Senator Tom Coburn explains how we the people can at last rebalance our governmental system and counter the dysfunction in Washington. Complete with a list of resources and organization fighting for the people, Smashing the DC Monopoly is your guide to standing up for the next generation and defeating the "me-first" Washington elite who are mortgaging our country's future.

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, America has been insane for decades. We've elected establishment politicians on both sides of the aisle; we've hoped for change; and we've been disappointed. But with the election of Donald Trump, America tried something new. So we have to ask ourselves: what if Trump isn't the crazy man that the media pretends he is? What if he's actually the cure for a country who's been going mad for years? In Mad Politics, Fox News commentator, radio host, and psychological analyst Dr. Gina Loudon diagnoses the problem with America's status quo politics. Loudon has unique insight into both the Trump campaign and the larger political landscape as a member of the president's 2020 media advisory board, a former surrogate for his campaign, the wife of a former Senator from Missouri, the co-host of a national Television show, a seasoned psychological analyst on FOX News, CNN and others, and a twice pedigreed Master and Ph.D. With authority and wit, Mad Politics exposes cultural patterns that have led to today's political narcissism. She scans the psychological literature and illuminates a formula to answer the question: How can we restore a sound mind to the body politic? The answer, Loudon concludes, may be in joining Trump in a complete rejection of political correctness.

You think you know why our government in Washington is broken, but you really don't. You think it's broken because politicians curry favor with special interests and activists of the Left or Right. There's something to that and it helps explain why these politicians can't find common ground, but it misses the root cause. A half century ago, elected officials in Congress and the White House figured out a new system for enacting laws and spending programs--one that lets them take credit for promising good news while avoiding blame for government producing bad results. With five key tricks, politicians of both parties now avoid accounting to us for what government actually does to us. While you understand that these politicians seem to pull rabbits out of hats, hardly anyone sees the sleight of hand by which they get away with their tricks. Otherwise, their tricks wouldn't work. DC Confidential exposes the sleights of hand. Once they are brought to light, we can stop the tricks, fix our broken government, and make Washington work for us once again. The book explains the necessary reform and lays out an action plan to put it in place. Stopping the tricks would be a constructive, inclusive response to the anger that Americans from across the political spectrum feel toward what should be our government.

How the Powerful Enrich Themselves, Slow Down Growth, and Increase Inequality

Author: Brink Lindsey,Steven Teles

Publisher: Oxford University Press

ISBN: 0190627786

Category: Political Science

Page: 240

View: 1964

For years, America has been plagued by slow economic growth and increasing inequality. Yet economists have long taught that there is a tradeoff between equity and efficiency-that is, between making a bigger pie and dividing it more fairly. That is why our current predicament is so puzzling: today, we are faced with both a stagnating economy and sky-high inequality. In The Captured Economy , Brink Lindsey and Steven M. Teles identify a common factor behind these twin ills: breakdowns in democratic governance that allow wealthy special interests to capture the policymaking process for their own benefit. They document the proliferation of regressive regulations that redistribute wealth and income up the economic scale while stifling entrepreneurship and innovation. When the state entrenches privilege by subverting market competition, the tradeoff between equity and efficiency no longer holds. Over the past four decades, new regulatory barriers have worked to shield the powerful from the rigors of competition, thereby inflating their incomes-sometimes to an extravagant degree. Lindsey and Teles detail four of the most important cases: subsidies for the financial sector's excessive risk taking, overprotection of copyrights and patents, favoritism toward incumbent businesses through occupational licensing schemes, and the NIMBY-led escalation of land use controls that drive up rents for everyone else. Freeing the economy from regressive regulatory capture will be difficult. Lindsey and Teles are realistic about the chances for reform, but they offer a set of promising strategies to improve democratic deliberation and open pathways for meaningful policy change. An original and counterintuitive interpretation of the forces driving inequality and stagnation, The Captured Economy will be necessary reading for anyone concerned about America's mounting economic problems and the social tensions they are sparking.

Since the election of Scott Walker, Wisconsin has been seen as ground zero for debates about the appropriate role of government in the wake of the Great Recession. In a time of rising inequality, Walker not only survived a bitterly contested recall that brought thousands of protesters to Capitol Square, he was subsequently reelected. How could this happen? How is it that the very people who stand to benefit from strong government services not only vote against the candidates who support those services but are vehemently against the very idea of big government? With The Politics of Resentment, Katherine J. Cramer uncovers an oft-overlooked piece of the puzzle: rural political consciousness and the resentment of the “liberal elite.” Rural voters are distrustful that politicians will respect the distinct values of their communities and allocate a fair share of resources. What can look like disagreements about basic political principles are therefore actually rooted in something even more fundamental: who we are as people and how closely a candidate’s social identity matches our own. Using Scott Walker and Wisconsin’s prominent and protracted debate about the appropriate role of government, Cramer illuminates the contours of rural consciousness, showing how place-based identities profoundly influence how people understand politics, regardless of whether urban politicians and their supporters really do shortchange or look down on those living in the country. The Politics of Resentment shows that rural resentment—no less than partisanship, race, or class—plays a major role in dividing America against itself.

How D.C. Politicians Are Taking You for a Ride -- and What You Can Do About It

Author: Kristin Tate

Publisher: Center Street

ISBN: 1455566225

Category: Political Science

Page: 320

View: 8069

With humor and a modern perspective, young conservative journalist Kristin Tate points out what's broken in our government and shows readers how they can fix it. Do you really think you're "free?" #LOL. D.C. politicians ship our friends and family overseas to fight in wars we shouldn't be fighting. They monitor our emails, record our phone calls, and peer into our snail mail. They spend our hard-earned cash on things no disciplined family would buy. They tell us who we can marry and what we can put in our bodies. They throw us in overcrowded prisons for smoking pot. They take lavish trips around the world, staying in five-star hotels... and it comes straight out of our paychecks. This isn't freedom. Government Gone Wild is a brash, bold ride through the carnival of absurdities that our broken system has become. This isn't about Democrats vs. Republicans... it's about inspiring hard working Americans to give a damn so we can take our country back. This is your wakeup call. You're not anywhere near as free as you think you are - but you can be. We're not as prosperous as we once were - but we can be.

Armed with truth, conviction, and faith, Matt Walsh explores the "Unholy Trinity,"- abortion, gay marriage, and gender --the three controversial and highly relevant topics that hold the key to progressivism's victory in not only politics, but over the entire culture. While conservatives worry endlessly about peripheral issues -- the economy, foreign policy and so forth - liberals have been hard at work chipping away at the bedrock of our civilization, and putting a new foundation in its place.a Through this campaign liberals have attempted, with startling success, to redefine the most fundamental elements of human society. Abortion redefines human life, gay marriage redefines the family, and finally progressive theories about gender redefine what it means to be a man or a woman. If progressivism can claim the power to bend life, family, and sex to its whims, it has established relativism as the supreme law and can truly do anything.a Walsh argues that only by learning to confront and win these supreme arguments can conservatives defeat the progressive agenda and reclaim the American culture.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The wall, taxes, tariffs, deportations, Obamacare, guns, military strength, schools, abortion, religion - what will the new president do? The "Godfather of Trumpmania," Michael Savage, examines the initial appointments, speeches, tweets and history of Donald Trump and offers his insights and analysis. The man many consider to be the determining factor in driving Trump over the finish line by motivating millions of undecideds and the "Deplorables," who would have otherwise sat out the election, provides a crucial first look at the early direction of the Trump presidency. Savage has waged a twenty-five year war on the radio to save America's borders, language and culture from a progressive onslaught that is already turning Europe into a socialist, multiculturalist nightmare, where violent gangs of radical Islamic refugees terrorize defenseless citizens on a daily basis. While most in the chattering classes around the world dismissed Trump's campaign, conservative radio icon Dr. Michael Savage championed Trump's platform and helped him galvanize the support of disaffected middle Americans left behind by the globalist central planners in their distant capitol. Savage's army of listeners on The Savage Nation was instrumental in electing Donald Trump to take the fight to Washington. But electoral victory was only the beginning. Trump now has an even bigger challenge in delivering on the promises he made to millions of American voters. He faces relentless opposition from special interests in both parties who stand to lose trillions if Trump's America First policies become the law of the land. Dr. Michael Savage has been on the front line of this fight for decades and knows what Trump and his administration are up against. He lays out a path to victory for the new, conservative American revolutionaries in Trump's War.

Former White House counsel and bestselling author John Dean reveals how the Bush White House has set America back decades--employing a worldview and tactics of deception that he claims will do more damage to the nation than Nixon at his worst.